It was twenty minutes to eight when Steve mounted the steps to the main lobby of the women’s dormitory. He was early after all, but not too early. He’d just sit and wait in the lobby for ten minutes or so. A funny flighty feeling curled up his stomach as he sank into a large overstuffed chair. He felt somehow out of place watching the men come in, give their dates’ names to the receptionist, and casually stand around in the waiting area until their girls arrived and signed out.
“So that’s how it’s done,” he noted.
The big hand on the clock above the entrance crept toward the ten. The closer it got, the more glued he felt to the chair. His stomach was definitely acting up now. Was he going to be sick? Not if he could help it! Now the hand had undeniably reached the ten. The moment had arrived.
Trying to imitate the well-practiced men, he sauntered up to the desk, asked for Cecilia Endsrud, went over to one of the big pillars, and leaned against it for support. Remember, act natural. But nothing felt natural to him! No matter where he put his hands, they seemed out of place. In his pockets, dangling free, by his side, folded, one in a pocket and the other dangling free, nothing felt natural. She’d be coming down any second now. He had to settle down, get himself under control. He had to quit freezing every time he heard a girl’s footfall on the stairs. Just think clearly. Keep your balance.
With all of this going on in his head, he hadn’t noticed her silently descend the staircase. Now all at once he looked up and there she was, standing across the lobby from him waiting in line to sign out. She was smiling at him. She was the only girl whose escort had not leapt to her side the moment she appeared in line. Unattended as she was, Steve noticed several of the men eying her over, probably wishing they could work out an exchange of dates for the evening, he thought.
Even at that, Steve could not move. He felt transfixed as by a light from heaven. He couldn’t get his eyes off her. Everything about her was so right. She stood there just as she had in his very first dream of her—so pure, so otherworldly, so very kind, and so indescribably beautiful. In his dream he hadn’t been able to get to her, but now she was quietly motioning him to come and join her.
And he did, drawn by her warmth. “Hello,” he said, looking into her eyes.
“Hello,” she said, looking into his.